33-34 Weeks: Growing, Shower, Bedding

I know that I am a bit behind.  As the due date approaches and the holidays are upon us, I find that my time is more limited. 

First of all, here is a belly picture from week 33/34.  It has certainly started to pop out - no where near the 8 month look of most women, unfortunately, but I'm still proud.  I'm now finally starting to be recognized in public as pregnant - so exciting to be asked when I am due.

Our last appointment went well.  My hyperemesis continues, but I am now above my pre-pregnancy weight - yay!  I am about 3 lbs. up - still about 17-20 lbs below where I should be, but I'll take any gains I can get.  I met with a nutritionist who gave me some pointers about trying to get a little protein and extra calories in my diet.  Baby has also been growing.  He went from the 26th percentile to the 29th.  He was estimated at about 4 lbs. 2 oz and 16.2 inches.  Great news! 

He has been in the head-down position and ready to make his entrance for our past two sonograms, so hopefully he stays that way for the remainder.  However, the head-down position, increasingly cramped quarters, and having his hand in front of his face all made it difficult to get any good sonogram pictures of him.
 

This is a shot of his face pointed towards us.

Here is his foot.  It measured almost 3 inches - quite impressive for his size!

This is a 3D image of his face.  You can see his eye, nose, mouth, and hand up by his face.  The sonographer said he had quite a "distinctive nose" - Brewer nose????

We also had the privilege of having my sister, Amy Rose, and brother-in-law, Jimmy, in town for a few days.  They attended our shower hosted by our amazing friends, Shonda and Joee. It was so special being surrounded by our friends and family that love and support us. We are so appreciative of all the amazing people that are part of our lives and will be a part of our baby boy's life as well.

Amy and Jimmy at our fabulous shower (with Shonda in the background).

While Amy and Jimmy were in town we were busy custom-making Baby V's bedding. Amy is a whiz on the sewing machine and was able to make a comforter, bedskirt, and two pillows as their gift to Baby V. They turned out amazing - so special to have something homemade!

Our modern/contemporary comforter.

Comforter and bedskirt in the crib.

Pillows, curtains, and a blanket I made to match!

We will be missing our annual Christmas trip to Minnesota to visit my family this year.  I will be missing my white Christmas and seeing my family, but I can't wait for them to meet our little one soon!

29 Weeks - Update

Well, we had some disappointing news at the doctor on Tuesday.  Baby seems to be doing fine, but he is starting to measure small.  He is measuring in at 2 pounds 6 ounces and 13.8 inches.  This is only the 26th percentile, down significantly from where he was.  I'm having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that the hyperemesis is starting to have an impact on our baby.  This was my worst fear, I'm hoping to turn this around and get him back on track.

The doctor seems more concerned about me at this point though.  My continued lack of gaining any weight, vomiting, and limited foods that have been able to stay down indicate nutritional deficiency and possible "maternal starvation".  The only effects I've noticed are being extra exhausted, especially after any activity (walking the dogs, etc.), and muscles being sore after simple activities (climbing the stairs).  I'm working hard at trying to reverse all this - and the doctor has a couple more things to try as well.  I go back for a weigh-in on Tuesday - fingers crossed!

Luckily Baby V has been incredibly active still! I've been having Braxton-hicks contractions for the last few weeks, which is an interesting experience!

On to the fun part...
During our sonogram on Tuesday, Baby V showed his extreme flexibility.  He had one of his legs stretched straight up so that his little foot was right in front of his face.  His other one was tucked under him.  The sonographer also said that his hand was by his "boy parts".  Oh goodness - it starts already!  All his internal organs are present and seem to be in working order!  We got to see him opening and closing his mouth, however the sonographer was unable to copy the pictures and video clips onto a disk for us this time for some reason.  Oh well, here are a couple we got...

Baby V's handsome profile

Head-on face shot

28 Weeks - Third Trimester!!

Here we are in the home-stretch!  Only 12 short weeks to go!  I can't believe that all this is actually happening.  We are so blessed to be able to experience the miracle of life (it truly is a miracle). 

We are starting to make some headway on preparing for our little one.  Jon put together the crib and dresser...

We finally registered (Target - click here,    Buy Buy Baby - click here, and   Babies R' Us - click here).  Jon and I were completely overwhelmed by all the stuff that is needed to care for an infant (and that's just the infant stage).  Thank goodness we have enough room in our house for all the baby paraphernalia!  Although, Jon thinks all the baby stuff will conveniently stay out of the way in the nursery (little does he know that it will take over the entire house). We've begun clipping and saving all the diaper, wipes, and baby coupons we can find (our new favorite pastime to save money - send coupons our way if you come across them and aren't going to use them)! 

Thanks to my big sister, Amy Rose, I had an amazing Halloween costume that got lots of compliments, giggles, and questions from trick-or-treaters...

My baby bump is starting to pop a little more (but he's still packed in there pretty tightly!)...

As you can see our dogs are not shy when the camera comes out!  They are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Baby V as well so they get more walks and trips to the park.  Otto had his head on my belly as he slept and the baby kept kicking hard.  Every time the baby kicked, he would open his eyes and look at me like, "Do you mind?  I'm trying to sleep!" 

Not much news on the health front.  Still getting sick often though, but thanks to Jon's nagging (ahem - reminders), I think I have gained back a few pounds!  Baby V is still a mover and shaker - he loves the sound of Jon's voice and responds when he hears it.  We have a sonogram next week to check on our baby boy's growth.  Can't wait to see him again!

25 Weeks - End of 2nd Trimester

The good news is that baby seems to be doing well. His heartbeat and development are good (1lb.7oz, 11.1"). He may be a little small, so we hope to fatten him up over the next few months! He is still quite a mover and seems to enjoy kicking the heck out of mommy's insides. I can already tell we're going to have our hands full!
Unfortunately for me my hyperemesis has caused all sorts of problems (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperemesis_gravidarum for more info on the condition if you are curious) . I'm still vomiting quite often and am only able to keep down a fraction of what I eat. My doctor is extremely concerned about my weight and nutritional deficiency. They have exhausted all possible medical and non-medicinal options (trust me I've tried EVERYTHING). If I don't start making any progress they will have to install an IV feeding port in my chest - we want to avoid this at all costs because it is invasive and risky due to high risk of dangerous infections and blood clots that would not be good for baby or me. We are going to work very hard over the next 2-4 weeks to do everything in our power to keep more down and pack on a few pounds so this doesn't happen. Whew, no pressure! The doctor said she doesn't see me being able to return to work any time soon, if at all before the baby is born. I, of course, am still determined to change that and make a miraculous recovery... so hopeful! I find myself talking to my dogs and cat frequently just so the baby can hear my voice. So different from talking non-stop all day! Luckily I am able to get out for very short trips every once in a while as long as I avoid overstimulation, stress, smells, and too much activity that could exacerbate my nausea. I know all this will be a distant memory as soon as I get to hold our precious baby boy in my arms! Going to be so worth everything we've been through.
We recently got the crib and dresser that we ordered from JCPenney, however it will probably be a while before we have the nursery put together. We still have lots to do before it will be ready for Baby V. - our "To Do" list just seems to keep growing!

Jon and I also completed the first class in our series of baby preparation classes - the "Childbirth" class. Probably the most intimidating course in the series, but we survived it and are hoping for a relatively uneventful delivery.

Arm is across his face

Curled up, can see his spine

Side view - can see all 4 chambers in his heart beating

Can see his face, heart, and mouth open and close

23 week belly - Otto couldn't resist the photo op

23 Weeks (Another trip to the hospital)

The picture of "the bump" is from 21 weeks, but nothing much has changed. I can still wear some of my pre-pregnancy clothes and those that see me can't believe I'm almost 6 months pregnant, or pregnant at all. Occasionally, after I eat, or Baby V changes positions, the bump will stick out a little farther than normal, but it never lasts.

I'm still struggling with hyperemesis gravidarum (extreme nausea and vomiting) which landed me in the ER and hospital again for dehydration. They gave me two bags of fluids in the ER, which was obviously not enough. When I went back to the doctor the next day they admitted me to the hospital because I was still dehydrated. There, they pumped me full with 5 more bags. Since some of my nausea stems from smells, motions, sensory overload, etc. the doctor put me on medical leave/bedrest for a little while to see if that helps. I go back on October 11th for another appointment, so my goal is to be back up to my pre-pregnacy weight by then. I'm getting close! I've started resigning myself to the fact that I may be sick for rest of my pregnancy. The doctor says this is a probable conclusion since I am so far along and still so sick. Oh well, eye on the prize!

Our little monkey is living up to his nickname. He is extremely active and seems to move all day and night. We're going to have our hands full! The nurses would strap the fetal monitor on to track his heartbeat while I was in the hospital, but as soon as they would track down his heartbeat, he would flip and start kicking at the monitor. He would kick it so hard the monitor would move, bounce, and make crazy noises. The nurses finally gave up and discontinued the monitoring. His movements can often be seen now by just looking at my stomach and you can feel him from the outside too! The feeling for me is unlike any I've ever experienced and so different from what I imagined! My body doesn't feel like it belongs to me anymore.

So many people have asked us about names! The truth is, we haven't even really started looking yet. Jon says that if he is born on Friday, January 13th he MUST be named Jason (after Jason Voorhies the Friday the 13th killer). Every mother's dream for a namesake for her child! Umm, yeah, gonna have to dig out the veto powers on that one! We're planning on keeping baby's name a secret until after he is born, and possibly even waiting to see what he looks like before we pick one (I haven't run that one by Jon yet, we'll see....). Besides, choosing a name is about number 3 or 4 on our "To Do" list right now. Most importantly, we first need to order a crib and furniture so it gets here in time! Then get the nursery set up. So much to do, and time is flying (16 weeks to go)!

Baby V is a ...BOY!!! & Trip to the Hospital

19 Weeks, 5 days (Almost halfway there!) -
Well, we finally got to have the appointment we've been anticipating. Baby V participated and gave us a great proud shot on the sonogram that shouted "I'm a boy!" We are thrilled and relieved that he is healthy and active. They took lots of measurements, and Jon is relieved to say that the baby's head measurements were actually average (whew!). We saw all four chambers of the heart, the different parts of the brain, kidneys, bladder, fingers, feet, and all the amazing parts that make up our little one. It's amazing what can be viewed by soundwaves!

I've still been struggling with nausea and losing weight. I spent time in the hospital this week for severe dehydration, low blood pressure, and lightheadedness. I had so much trouble with nausea that I wasn't able to keep anything down. Apparently it's called hyperemesis gravidarum, and I happen to be one of the unlucky few to experience it beyond the first trimester. They pumped lots of IV fluids into me, and gave me a combination of strong anti-nausea medications that will hopefully help me keep my food and fluids down and gain some weight! My goal is to get back up to my prepregnancy weight by my next appointment!

It is now quite common to feel the baby move. Most of the time it is just really light flutters from the inside. Last night he was moving quite a bit, and his movements could even be seen and felt from the outside. Absolutely incredible!

I'm a BOY!  Spread eagle crotch shot - looking up from underneath (you can see legs on either side of the boy parts!)

Profile with arm

Cute profile!

Hand in his mouth

You can even see his brain!

Fingers!

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle!

A different view...

17 Weeks - No news on gender yet :-(

So far this trimester has been relatively uneventful. I'm still getting sick often and can't wait for that part to be over! We thought that we would know the sex of the baby by now, but our last appointment did not include a sonogram :-( We should find out at our next appointment on August 30th, provided the baby cooperates. I've started back to school, which is always stressful and exhausting, although I've had lots of people helping and looking out for me! I'll post more pictures after our next appointment!

The First Trimester

The first trimester was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. Due to our past troubles we were quite anxious to get this part behind us so we could breathe a little bit easier. Lucky me, the baby made sure I got the full first trimester experience. I actually lost weight due to food aversions (like meat), nauseating smells, tastes, and textures, and an all day morning sickness that didn't let me keep very much down. Even brushing my teeth made me sick! Exhaustion was pretty evident as well. I'm so glad I happened to be on summer break, I don't think I would have been a very happy or energetic teacher through all that. Now that we're at the end of the first trimester, I'm getting a bit more energy, and slightly less sick. Evenings/nights still give me lots of trouble, but I'm so thankful everything is going well with baby!

Mother's Day 5/8/11These are the four embryos that were transferred as part of IVF. The mass of cells you can see inside the larger two are the baby cells, the cells around the outside are placental cells

7 weeks Baby 1We had two embryos that took. This is the first one. It just looks like a big blob at this point, but we could see the heartbeat and baby measures 10mm.

7 Weeks Baby 2
This is the 2nd. It was measuring small (5.4mm) and couldn't detect a heartbeat. As the doctor predicted, this one sadly did not make it. 

11 weeksOur little alien! I was concerned after this sono that our baby would have Jon's large head. Baby was moving around like crazy (1.7 inches, 155 heartbeat).

13 weeks
As always, baby was swingin' around like a monkey, but you could now make out little hands with fingers and feet with toes and see all the facial features

End of 1st Trimester BellyMy belly is still pretty small because it's my first. Goodbye waist, goodbye clothes, goodbye view of my feet!

Our Baby Story

For those that may not be aware...it's been a long road for us to get to this point, and looking back I can't believe it's only been 3 years! After several miscarriages early on, we found out that I have a rare chromosomal abnormality that results in the genetic viability of only a small percentage of my pregnancies, thus the remaining non-viable pregnancies end in miscarriage. Unfortunately, there isn't a fix for genetics. We were referred to a wonderful reproductive endocrinologist who performed my surgery to correct a couple of other issues that were roadblocking our path to parenthood. After a couple of years of trying a variety of medications, injections, and procedures... no luck! We began looking into adoption but opted to try IVF (in vitro fertilization) first. If you're not familiar with this procedure, it's basically where they retrieve eggs from my ovaries, fertilize, then place them back in to attach and grow. Lucky us, it worked and has brought us to this wonderful point in our journey!
Thank you to all our wonderful friends and family who have supported us with all your amazing thoughts and prayers. We are so blessed to have such incredible people in our lives. Keep up the prayers, we have some risk involved in carrying this child to term.

With appreciation and gratitude,
Jon, Teresa, and Baby V